Filed under: iPhone
NPD reports iPhone was top US handset in Q3
There's word this morning that the NPD Group's latest research shows a surprising finish for the iPhone in the 3rd-quarter sales competition among US cellphones bought by consumers; for the first time in three years, there's a new top model. The Motorola RAZR, long the most popular handset for adult consumers, has fallen before the touchable juggernaut from Cupertino, CA.
Yes, even while the overall consumer unit sales for cellphones declined 15% from the year-ago quarter (ouch!), the iPhone 3G kicked the RAZR out and took over as the #1 most popular handset sold in the US. LG also bypassed Motorola as the #1 overall vendor in consumer phone sales. Even though the RAZR is now offered as a free phone on new contracts with many carriers, those phones still count as sales for the purposes of the NPD analysis -- making the iPhone's ascendancy even more stunning.
"The displacement of the RAZR by the iPhone 3G represents a watershed shift in handset design from fashion to fashionable functionality," said Ross Rubin, director of industry analysis for NPD (and recent TUAW talkcast guest). Four of the five best-selling handsets in the third quarter were optimized for messaging and other advanced Internet features.
The top three phones (the iPhone, the RAZR, and the Blackberry Curve) address some different markets and diverse user needs -- but to have the iPhone on top, even counting in the pent-up demand for a 3G version, is pretty astonishing. Considering that Apple has ramped up from a v1 iPhone which gave up some key functionality in the interest of getting to market in a hurry, and even the 3G model lacks some popular items (copy/paste, tethering), getting to the top of the heap is an achievement worth celebrating.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Kendal said 11:22AM on 11-10-2008
This is just the beginning...
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Kai Cherry said 11:58AM on 11-10-2008
Wow...if this shows up on engadget or digg, it should spark of a 100+ comment run full of name-calling and general mayhem and dismay.
Happy Monday :)
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Victor Agreda Jr said 12:08PM on 11-10-2008
At least we know they won't be hating via their RAZR's, eh?
This really is astounding -- until you see any normal human's response to the device. It's like watching a Star Trek where they blatantly violate the Prime Directive.
The RAZR was amazing and cute, but fell down in implementation. (Oh, except my calls weren't dropped as often, oof!)
brian said 11:39AM on 11-10-2008
Dude...iPhone completely rocks...
But Apple is ranked #5 , (yes #5) in total mobile phone sales!! no. 1 is Samsung.....
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Greg said 2:08PM on 11-10-2008
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jbelkin said 4:50PM on 11-10-2008
So, that Steve Ballmer guy is wrong again ... is that zero since 1998? How many industries is now officially clueless about? Good thing the board helped propped up the stock with buybacks, huh?
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Karl said 12:35AM on 11-11-2008
Question about the image with this post - how is someone calling with no service? Blasphemy!
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Leon said 10:05AM on 11-11-2008
@Karl
The picture is being used from the iPhone Application called FakeCalls. Not to go off topic, but it is interesting how the application works, and have saved me a few times ;)
As far as the iPhone being the cellphone goddess (yes godess), its hard to not belive it. They market their product well, and continue to improve the phone through a simple software update. How many other phones have this option? Sure the iPhone lacks a few features, doesnt mean it lacks the hardware to do it. Just takes some time to get things right, and you have to remember this is Apples first stab at entering the market with a cellphone. For beginners, its astonishing, and as they continue to produce a line of iPhones, they will find better things to pack into this little guy.
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Rob said 12:28PM on 11-17-2008
@Leon: ".. and continue to improve the phone through a simple software update. How many other phones have this option?"
None of course. The concept of software patching is a remarkable cutting edge Apple invention. Viva the well-marketed product! (and the blinkered fanboi)
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